Brooklyn came alive with music, movement, and history as the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation hosted its third annual Rhythms & Movements Festival from February 20 to 28, 2026. The nine-day celebration of African American culture launched the organization’s 25th anniversary year, blending performances, workshops, and community-centered programming across the borough.
This year’s festival, themed We Strive to Thrive, spanned three major venues: BRIC Ballroom, The Billie Holiday Theatre, and The Theater at City Tech. The events highlighted Black History Month while showcasing Asase Yaa’s long-standing dedication to preserving African traditions, cultivating young artists, and creating transformative cultural experiences grounded in heritage, excellence, and community.
A striking opening with art and activism
The festival opened on February 20 at BRIC Ballroom with An Artivist Experience, a concert led by composer and percussionist Kweku Sumbry. Accompanied by vibraphonist Joel Ross, double-bassist Henry Fraser, and trumpeter Diego Hedez, the ensemble blended contemporary jazz with ancestral rhythms. The evening included a conversation with Chief Ayanda Clarke, exploring the intersections of music, activism, and social change, creating a powerful start to the festival’s nine days.
Later that night, the atmosphere shifted into a celebration of movement and joy with The Love Party. Legendary DJ Spinna transformed the ballroom, keeping audiences dancing into the night as the event became a vibrant showcase of cultural pride.
Youth theater and postponed performances
February 25 through 27 featured the Asase Yaa Theater Company’s production, The Mad Scientist, a youth-centered show nearly sold out before New York City’s historic snowstorm forced the postponement of all performances. The safety-focused decision meant tickets will be honored at new dates to be announced, keeping anticipation high for the young performers’ reimagined work.
Culminating in dance, music, and a national tour
The festival concluded on February 28 with The Revival: Djembe in the New Millennium at The Theater at City Tech, performed by the award-winning Asase Yaa African American Dance Theater. Directed and choreographed by founder Yao Ababio and executive produced by K. Osei Williams, the production revisited a landmark 2010 work while integrating fresh music, multimedia visuals, and innovative costumes.
The performance featured 18 dancers fusing West African and Diasporic traditions with hip hop, R&B, rap, and jazz, honoring the cultural roots that shaped Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood in the early 1990s. The evening also marked the launch of the dance company’s first national tour, set to bring the production to major U.S. cities through November.
Honoring cultural leaders and community impact
During the closing evening, Asase Yaa presented its inaugural Rhythms & Movements Festival Legacy Achievement Awards. Honorees included Coco Killingsworth of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Segun Shabaka Ph.D., Nana Owusu Hunter, and sisters Kerry Coddett and Krystal Payne of Kwanzaa Crawl. The awards recognized their lasting contributions to cultural preservation and their influence in building vibrant community initiatives.
From sold-out audiences to intergenerational storytelling and dynamic stage performances, the 2026 festival underscored Asase Yaa’s mission to educate, entertain, and inspire. As the organization celebrates its 25th anniversary, the event reflected both the rich history of its work and the promise of future artistic and cultural innovation.
The Rhythms & Movements Festival affirmed that celebrating African artistry, empowering youth, and cultivating community can thrive together, leaving audiences energized and inspired to continue the work of cultural preservation and collective progress.
Source: Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation / KGyasi Photography LLC
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